Because her ultrasound was in the medical arts wing of Royal Memorial, close to Vaughn’s office, surely his colleagues would see him with Ruby today, even though he’d traded shifts with another surgeon in order to be here. He’d texted her he was on his way a few moments earlier. As she waited in the exam room, she wondered who would walk through the door first. The ultrasound technician, or Vaughn and Ruby.
When a quick knock sounded, she set aside her phone.
“Come in.” She’d been left alone to change, but the technician—Leslie—had given her more than enough time to slip off her dress and put on the hospital gown.
“All set?” Leslie asked, stepping into the room.
“I’m ready.” Abigail’s heart sank for a moment, however, her eyes greedy for a sight of Vaughn.
“That’s good, because you have a hospital celebrity joining us today.” Leslie held the door open wide, admitting the sexy doctor Abigail had been hoping to see.
Ruby’s nails clicked softly on the floor as she entered the room with Vaughn, who was dressed in street clothes. Dark pants and a fitted blue polo shirt. Abigail’s breath caught just seeing him. He had an undeniable physical effect on her. She couldn’t have pulled her gaze away from him if she tried.
“Thank you for letting us be here,” Vaughn said quietly as her bent to kiss her cheek, his fingers lingering on her face for an extra few moments.
“It’s good to see you. Both.” Her skin tingled pleasantly where he touched her, a shiver tripping down her spine.
“We missed you.” His eyes held hers while the technician logged in to her machine.
“I’m ready when you are, Miss Abigail,” Leslie called to her. “Doctor Chambers, bring whatever chair is more comfortable for you.”
Excited and oddly nervous, Abigail laid down on the table, then Leslie quickly covered her legs with one blanket and gave her a second if she wanted it for her breasts. After sliding her gown open, the technician squeezed the gel on Abigail’s stomach to help her slide the wand for a good picture.
Vaughn leaned over to grasp her hand, his expression serious. Was he nervous, too? She thought her anxiety came from not knowing what her future held with a man she was falling for. Did his presence here mean he wanted to have a role in her life and the life of her child? But she wasn’t sure why Vaughn appeared so...stoic. Quiet.
Perhaps bringing the dog into the hospital had already opened him up to comments and questions from Royal Memorial staffers before he even set foot in the exam room. But she was just guessing, unsure of so many things when it came to Vaughn.
The ultrasound screen lit up with images of the tiny life inside her, drawing her attention away from the worries to focus on the joys.
“Here we go,” Leslie said cheerily, using the wand to hover over different parts of Abigail’s belly as she pointed out parts of the baby. “Smile and wave for the camera, little one.”
“Can you tell the sex?” Abigail asked, marveling over the images on the display monitor that would give her a video file afterward. “I’m hoping we’ll know this time.”
“I like to be really sure before I say anything.” Leslie smiled, moving over and over one small spot on Abigail’s stomach. “But by now, I feel certain.” She glanced over at Abigail. “It’s a girl.”
A little girl. The words made happy tears fill Abigail’s eyes. A lump formed in her throat as she looked toward Vaughn, wanting to share the moment.
He stared at the monitor, eyes narrowed. Worry etched between his eyebrows. Ruby leaned heavily against his side, far more in tune with her handler’s moods than Abigail had been.
“Vaughn?” she said uncertainly. “I’m so excited.”
His face cleared, but it seemed as though it took some effort on his part. He rubbed her arm. “Me, too.” He swallowed. Scavenged a ghost of a smile. “That’s incredible news.”
Something was bothering him, though. And it upset Abigail that she didn’t know what, but she tried to let it go and just enjoy the moment. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of her heart beating over the monitor and the click of the technician’s fingers on the keyboard as she zoomed in on various parts of Abigail’s baby. The antiseptic scent of the paper-covered exam table distracted her, and she opened her eyes with a start, her senses sharpening rather than relaxing. She couldn’t shake the sensation that Vaughn wasn’t fully present with her on this important day.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, needing him to be supportive or...to not be here at all. She’d really thought they’d moved past this and he was looking forward to being a part of today with her.
He didn’t answer. He moved around the bed and approached the display monitor, as if to take a closer view. To Leslie, he asked, “Can you go back here for a second?” He gestured to a point to the left of the center.
Worry stirred inside her.
Real worry.
Ruby must have felt it, too, because the dog lifted her head away from Vaughn’s thigh long enough to nuzzle Abigail’s calf for a moment. A nuzzle of comfort.
Was this the way Vaughn felt when the golden retriever pressed herself to him? She couldn’t imagine feeling this kind of anxiety all the time. Through her own fears, she couldn’t deny a pang of renewed empathy for Vaughn.
The ultrasound technician circled the same spot over and over as both of
